Software to run a consignment store

jbsibley · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 4

I'm debating opening an eBay consignment shop and have begun the hunt for some full-featured software that can automate the process as much as possible, and it's a must that the software track consignors and payouts. There just doesn't seem to be too much out there. The most interesting ones I've found so far are Meridian (www.noblespirit.com/meridian) and TA2004 (www.resaleworld.com).

I just used Meridian in a trial-run and I'm not too impressed. It's buggy and a lot of features are half-implemented or non-existant or coming soon. On the plus side, it has a great interface and support personnel are easily available by phone, quickly.

TA2004 I know less about - I have a demo CD-ROM on the way to me. If it does everything they say without incident, it's a great program. It's also an incredibly expensive one, and then it costs another $100 or so/mo for ongoing auction services.

Is there anyone out there running a consignment shop who'd care to comment on the search for software?

kjp55 · Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 1972 Location: East of Rockies

Here are a few programs you might want to look at.

http://theconsignmentshop.biz/

eBay Consignment Business Manual

Liberty 4 Trading eBay Assistants
http://www.resaleworld.com/tradeassist.php

jbsibley · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 4

I have the manual, which highly recommends Meridian. Not for me. Liberty is the same product as TA2004 (Name change). Theconsignmentshop.biz has no eBay specific features - you can't create a listing, track your paypal payments, or ship anything.

The Biss · Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Posts: 32

I use a program called AuctionWizard2000 to manage my auctions and consignors. It has consignment built directly into the interface. Its only downside (If that can be considered a downside) is that it is locally based instead of server based. For me this means that I can "divorce" myself from my eBay business come 6PM.

Since it is a Borland Paradox based software, I have had an interface created for it that allows me to input consignors directly into AW2K, input lists of items, export all this info to AW2K, and print out consignment contracts.

It's also relatively inexpensive.

www.auctionwizard2000.com

jbsibley · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 4

Wow, thanks - this looks like just the thing I was looking for, and at a reasonable price too.

The Biss · Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Posts: 32

No problems. Its a great program. For an example of how you can adjust their templates, check out my ebay auctions under user id: beachbidauctions.

glassfish · Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 3

I personally have chosen to do my stuff with Infopia's Marketplace Manager. It's absolutely phenomenal. Plus, with the addition of their Configurator... there's no comparison!

The Biss · Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Posts: 32

So how does Infopedia handle consignment sales? Their program looks like every other channel marketing tool out there.

jbsibley · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 4

Yeah, it doesn't look like it has any consignment provisions whatsoever.

glassfish · Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 3

Their number is on their site... somewhere. I called, and they're currently working with some HUGE consignment companies right now. What they have sounds quite impressive, far more so than any other I've seen thus far.

It seems they are geared more towards larger companies, but what they have to offer is absolutely amazing it's rather cheap when you think about it! When I called, they walked me through an online demo. Frankly, it puts everything else I've seen to shame!

cashinyourcloset · Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 4

I have looked at the following:

Meridian -- responsive to feedback, but doesn't have necessary features (for example, limiting all photos to 400 x 400 max doesn't work for us)

Liberty 2004 -- missing many necessary capabilities. Fundamental flaw is that payment status is directly linked to eBay; if for some reason you need to defer shipping (PayPal refund, or waiting for additional shipping monies for special shipping request) you can't use their workflow manager -- if eBay thinks it is paid for, so does their software. Another example: you can either pay a consignor for all of their unpaid items or none of their items; can't pick which. Third example: printing a contract/receipt for consigned goods is klunky at best. Company president and I spoke; his attitude was pretty much: "it's my way or the highway." I chose the highway.

We've had to "roll our own" using a combination of Vendio auction hosting bracketed by Excel/VBA on the front and back ends. T'aint pretty, but it works.

The Biss · Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Posts: 32

Tain't pretty for sure... which is why I advocate AW2K. With their 2.2 release, it allows me to create consignment forms with all kinds of great info on them (including advertising on my invoices to bring back customers and creating referal handout slips on my consignment mailouts).

When I get in the office tomorrow, I'll scan some of the custom forms I've created through their form builder program. It's a pretty cool situation.

cashinyourcloset · Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 4

I downloaded AW2k. First thing I noticed was that it used a flat % commission, which doesn't work for me. I'll take another look sometime.

The thing I like about doing it myself is that I have absolute control over everything. OTOH, if someone else had really flexible software...

Ed DiRuzza · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 1

I just wanted to clear up 'cashinyourcloset's post.

We defer all non-paypal payments to 'Unpaid' orders so there is no confusion with the store on which orders need to be sent out. We've been doing this for the past 3 releases or so.

Previously we marked the order as paid because eBay considers any finished order to be 'complete' once its' gone through checkout. This was confusing our customers.

Any orders that were received from eBay as check, money order or other payments can be viewed and edited with the correct payment information. They will not interfere with work flow of the store.

I'm not sure what his comment about the contract being 'klunky' means ...it's fairly simple to do.

Let me know if anyone has specific questions about our software and its' capabilities.

I can be reached directly at 'ed@resaleworld.com'.

Hope this helps.

Ed

dropnrun · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Orlando, FL

We have tried all of the below software in our business over the last year.

Sellers asst pro
Auctionwizard
Meridan

We have also looked at resale world's application and we are speaking with infopia as well.

Our solution to date is to use sellers asst pro from eBay

Pros - very cost effective, very stable, DB driven , & it is maintained by eBay.

Cons - not very user friendly, very large learning curve and very limited consignment functions.

So our solution has been to create our own custom front end (designed specifically around the eBay drop store concept) - if anyone has questions please email us we will be happy to speak with you about possible solutions

Thanks
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Drop N Run, LLC.
788 N SR 434
Suite 108
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714